Tray for glassware and other fragile articles



Nov. 22, 1955 P. A. NEMOEDE 2,724,542

TRAY FOR GLASSWARE AND OTHER FRAGILE ARTICLES Filed March 16, 1955 TRAY FOR GLASSWARE AND OTHER FRAGILE ARTICLES Paul A. Nemoede, Keller, Tex., assignor to Container Corporation of America, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware This invention relates to containers of a tray type adapted to receive and display glassware and other fragile articles but also adapted to package such articles for transportation, storage and other purposes: More particularly, the invention pertains to tray containers con structed from foldable paperboard or similar materials which may be cut and scored in the form of individual blanks for immediate or later folding and securing into the ultimate container. The embodiment chosen for illustrationherein is designed especially for packaging and displaying articles of a generally cylindrical shape such, for instance, as vases, tumblers, salt and pepper shakers and the like, which are quite commonly made of glass or plastic or other fragile material.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a tray formed of relatively light weight material such as paperboard which will afford a relatively high degree of-protection to fragile articles during the inevitable handling to which such articles are subject as well as during shipment and which, at the same time, will have and will present the contained articles in a neat, pleasing and attractive manner when the articles are on display.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a form of tray or container wherein inwardly and downwardly projecting top panels are so constructed and related to one another, the container or tray sidewalls and bottom wall as will position and protect the tray con: tents and strengthen the tray to prevent crushing thereof with resultant damage to the contents.

Another object is to provide a simplified and novel arrangement for supporting the inturned and inclined top panels from the bottom wall, the side walls and from one another, the arrangement being such that each of the top panels may receive some support from and lend some support to each of the adjacent top panels, the side walls and thebottom wall. r

Yet another object is to provide a tray in which the contents may be displayed with ample space immediately adjacent to the articles for advertising, decoration or informatiomthe tray construction being such as to permit it to be equipped with any suitable type of cover for use as a gift box and as a protective means for the contents.

Still another object is to provide a tray having two or more compartments or cells for the reception of two or more articles or items of the same or similar type and partition means, also composed of paperboard or the like, of special construction for cooperative relationship with the tray, adjacent articles within the tray and, when a cover is employed, with such cover. In this connection it should be stated that the construction is such as not only to provide a separator and cushioning means between the United States Patent or canopy type of cover over the tray and the articles contained therein. 7

The foregoing and other objects of my invention will be readily apparent after reading the following description and claims and after considering the accompanying drawings in which: t t

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a two-compartment or cell type of improved tray in its setup or erected condition, such tray including a partition, and the lview indicating in dotted outline one of a pair of vase-like articles as the same might appear when disposed in one of the compartments provided in the tray;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section substantially along the section line 2-2 of Fig. 1; p

Fig. 3is a vertical section taken substantially along the section line 33 of Fig. 2, a portion of one side of the tray being broken away;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a preferred form of blank from which the tray shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 may be constructed;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a blank utilized in making the partition for separation of adjacent articles within adjacent compartments in the tray; and

Fig. 6 is a section taken substantially along the section line 6-6 of Fig. l.

The invention has substantial value as a low cost display tray and packaging unit for use in shipping and disindividual articles but also to serve as stay or strut means to resist crushing of the tray (and cover) sides together and the tray bottom and cover relatively together thereby to protect the contained articles. r

The partition means preferably is arranged so that it may also serve to support a transparent or other wrapper playing relatively inexpensive glassware and other fragile goods with a minimum chance of breakage whether the tray is used alone or as a part of a dispensing box or carton. Any one of a number of suitable types of cover may be employed to cover the tray in telescoping relationship therewith and the trays with their contents with or without covers may be packed in large shipping containers for transportation and storage in quantity numbers. The tray not only may serve to protect the contents during shipping, storage and unpacking, but also as a convenient means for the display of the product and the ultimate consumer may carry the goods from store to home with reasonable assurance that the goods will not be damaged. It the tray and its contents are covered by transparent sheet material or by box type cover with a transparent window therein, it may serve as well to exhibit the contents attractively and conveniently, while protecting such contents from dust, dirt and injury.

The tray chosen for illustration of the invention may be made from a single piece or blank of suitable foldable sheet material such as paperboard and such blank, as cut and scored ready for folding and securing in set-up condition, is shown in Fig. 4. Within the bounds of the blank a pair of spaced, parallel score lines 11, 11 and another pair of spaced, parallel score lines 12, 12' at right angles to and intercepting score lines 11, 11', delineate a rectangular bottom wall panel 13 while score lines 14, 14' parallel to but spaced outwardly from score lines 11, 11', respectively, and score lines 15, 15 parallel to but spaced outwardly from score lines 12, 12, respectively, delineate side wall panels 16, 16 and side wall panels 17, 17', respectively. Attached to each lateral or end edge of each of the side wall panels 16, 16 along a score or fold line 18, is a corner flap 19 which, when the tray side and end walls are erected, will be secured by adhesive or other means to the adjacent inside (preferable) or outside face of the side wall panels 17, 17, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Between each of scorelines 14, 14, 15 and 15 and the adjacent outer edge of the blank is what may be termed a support and framing panel intended to function in various manners with respect to the articles to be placed in the tray, the panels also having certain cooperative functions with and with respect to one another. There are, therefore, four of these panels which are gena 3. erally. designated 21, 22; 23 and 23'. The support panel 21" has'a' centralfixed tongue=like portion 24' the outer or free edge 25 of which is intended to rest upon the inner face of bottom panel .13. At each end adjacent to a corner flap'l9, the-panel21has a triangular flap 26 delineated by a score line 27 and a pair of free edges 28, 28. Edges 28, 28 of'each flap 26 are disposed at right angles to one another by preference and bear predetermined angular relationships to the adjacent score line 27 which, in turn, bears a certain angular relationship to the score line 14 depending upon the ultimate slope or incline of the panel 21 to the end wall 16 and bottom wall 13; Between each end flap 26, and an adjacent part marginal along the score line 27, and the central' portion 24, the panel 21 is so cut as to provide a movable tongue 29. bounded by a straight edge 30 inset from edge 25, curved side edges 31 and a score line 32 parallel to score line 14. The movable tongues 29 are designed to enter the mouths of articles to be packaged in the tray or container as will more clearly appear hereinafter.

Panel 22, opposite to panel 21, is somewhat similarly formed having triangular end flaps 33 bounded by free edges 34, 34 which are disposed at right angles to one another, and a score line 35, the angular relationship between edges 34, 34' and score line 35, and between score line 35 and the score line 14 being determined by the ultimate slope or incline to exist between the panel 22 and the side wall 16' and bottom Wall 13. diate of the end flaps 33 and directly opposite to fixed tongue 24 is a fixed tongue 36 the outer edge 37 of which is intended to rest upon the bottom wall 13. Between the tongue 36 and end flaps 33 the panel 22 is cut away as indicated by the arcuate and tangential edge lines 38 and 39, respectively, to permit disposal and retention of the bottoms or other portions of the packaged articles in spaced relation to one another.

'Each of panels 23 and 23', at each end has a triangular flap 40 the free edges 41, 41 of which extend at right angles to one another and bear predetermined angular relation to score lines 42 which, inturn, are angularly related to the score lines 15, in a particular degree determined by the scope or inclination of the panels to the side walls 17, 17' and the bottom wall. The free edge 43 of each of panels 23, 23' between the score lines 42 is straight and parallel to score lines 15, 15, respectively, so that it may contact the inner or upper surface of bottom wall 13 throughout its length when folded down into its ultimate inclined position. For reasons which will be understood the lengths of the several flap edges 28, 34 and 41' will beequal to one another.

When the blank, cut. and scored as above described, is to be set up into tray or container form, the flaps19 are folded upward at right angles to the side walls 16, 16' and the end walls, in turn, are folded upward about score lines 11, 11 to bring them into parallel relationship and perpendicular to the bottom wall 13. The side walls are brought up about score lines 12, 12 into parallel relation perpendicular to the bottom wall 13 whereupon the corner flaps 19 are attached to either the inside (prefer able) or outside faces of side walls 17 17 Next the several triangular end flaps 26, 33 and 40 may be folded inward about the. respective score lines 27, 35 and 42 to positions placing them at right angles to their respective panels 21', 22', 23 and 23', whereupon the panels themselves may be folded inward and downward about the respective score lines 14, 14", 15 and'15' to dispose them in their inclined positions as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The tray resulting from the construction and folding operations above described has special and unique anticrushing strength and cushioning characteristics ideally adapting it to use for fragile articles such as glass and chinaware. Each. corner is especially reenforced since the: triangular end flaps 26. and33 will lie in face-to-face relation with the adjacent. triangular end flaps 40 with Interme- I the adjacent edges 28, 41 and 34, 41 abutting andextending vertically along. thejuncture (corner) of..the..end and side walls throughout the height of those walls and the adjacent edges 28', 41 and 34, 41 abutting and extending throughout their horizontal lengths in contact with the bottom wall 13. When an article such as the vase indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2 and for which specialv shape. the instant tray example has been designed, is to be packaged for display or transportation, one of the movable tongues 29'is swung upward, out of the plane of the panel, about its score or hinge line32f anddisposed in-the vase mouth. The edges 31 of tongues 29 conform generally in contour to the mouth of the vase but are convex so as to insure centering contact in the mouth and to give the resilience of point or spot contact at places of tangency. At the same time the edges defining the opening in the panel 21 in which the vase mouth part is resting will engage and generally conform to'the exterior of the vase mouth part and between such edges andthe tongue 29 the mouth end of thevase, will be firmly positioned and resiliently supported. In a correspondingmanner the base or bottom of the vase will. be positioned and supported in the opposite recess of the panel 22. The tongues 24 and 36, resting at their edges 25 and 37, respectively, upon the bottom wall 13, will lend resilient support to the panels to which they are connected and, of course, the adjacent panel 23 aidsin resiliently supporting the vase by engaging the side thereof.

Where, as in the illustrated embodiment, the tray is to carry a pair of vases or other items it may be desirable to provide an additional cushioning and supporting means between them. To such end a partition or divider for disposal between the items is provided. Fig. 5 shows the shape of the partition or divider blank and Figs. 1, 2 and 3 illustrate the divider in its position in the tray. As shown the divider blank is octahedral in shape, has a medial score line 44 which divides it into two equal panels 45, 45 which are folded into juxtaposed relationship for disposition between the vases or other items in the tray. It will be understood, of course, that the partition is. so dimensioned andcut that it will have edges resting upon the bottom wall 13 and upon the sloping top surfaces of panels 21 and- 22 and the tongues 24 and 36 of those panels. If, as may be desired for transportation of the tray and its contents, the tray is to be covered by a lid, it

' may be desirable, as shown, to make the partition or divider of suflicient height as to extend upward to the full height ofthe packaged item thereby to support the lid and to aid in protecting the contents.

Various modifications may be made in the tray to adapt it to receive, attractively display and package difierent items for secure transportation, handling and the like. While the form illustrated and described is quite inexpensive and simple to manufacture, erect and use, the principal features of construction may be employed in other types of tray as, for instance, instead of employing the end and side wall corner flaps 19, a bellows type of connection between such walls may be used or one may utilize any of'the. well known constructions which permit the tray tobe formed in a flat folded condition ready for erection. at the place of use, such constructions including the types automatically locking in erected state when expanded.

The invention being susceptible of many variations, adaptations and embodiments, it is desired that it not be deemed to be limited to or by the specific example disclosed for illustration but, rather, only by the invention spirit and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tray composed from a blank of sheet material such as paperboard, for packaging glass and other fragile articles, the blank being cut, scored and folded to provide a bottom wall bounded by a plurality of edges and an upwardly extending side wall integral with each of the edges of the bottom wall, said walls being joined in abutting relation at the corners, a panel inclining inwardly and downwardly from each side wall toward said bottom wall, a flap connected with and extending downward into contact with said bottom wall from each end of each of said panels adjacent to a corner, the adjacent flaps at each of said corners being substantially in face-to-face relation to one another, at least one of said flaps at each corner having a substantial lengthof one edge abutting against said bottom wall and a substantial length of another edge portion abutting against one of said side walls adjacent to the adjacent corner.

2. A tray composed from a blank of sheet material such as paperboard, for packaging glass and other fragile articles, the blank being cut, scored and folded to provide a bottom wall bounded by a plurality of side edges and an upwardly extending side wall along each of the edges of the bottom wall, said side walls being joined at the corners, a panel inclining inwardly and downwardly from each side wall toward said bottom wall, a flap connected with and extending downward from each end of each of said panels, the adjacent flaps at each of said corners beingsubstantially in face-to face abutting relation to one another, each of said flaps having one edge portion abutting against said bottom wall and another edge portion abutting against one of said side walls adjacent to the adjacent corner.

3. A tray composed from a blank of sheet material such as paper board, for packaging glass and other fragile articles, the blank being cut, scored and folded to provide a bottom wall of rectangular shape and an upwardly extending side wall along each of the edges of the bottom wall, said side walls being joined in abutting relation at the corners, a panel inclining inwardly and downwardly from each side wall toward said bottom wall, a generally triangular flap connected with and extending downward from each end of each of said panels, the adjacent flaps at each of said corners being substantially in face-to-face abutting relation to one another, each of said flaps having one edge portion abutting against said bottom wall and another edge portion abutting against one of said side walls adjacent to the adjacent corner.

4. A tray for fragile articles, the tray being composed of material such as paperboard cut, scored and folded to provide a rectangular bottom wall and four upstanding side walls, means for securing the ends of the side walls togetherat the corners of the tray, a panel inclining inward and downward from the upper edge of each of the side walls, each of said panels having a depending portion at each end in abutment with a corresponding portion of the adjacent panel end, each said depending portion having an edge projecting into the adjacent corner and contacting one of the sidewalls in such corner, the plane of each depending portion making an acute angle with the plane of each side at such corner.

5. A tray for fragile articles, the tray being composed of material such as paperboard cut, scored and folded to provide a rectangular bottom wall and four upstanding side walls, the side walls having their ends abutted together at the corners of the bottom wall, a panel inclining inward and downward from the upper edge of each of the side walls, each of said panels having a depending portion at each end adjacent to each tray corner, the upper edge of each depending portion at a corner being in abutment with the corresponding edge of a corresponding portion ofthe adjacent panel end at such corner, one of said depending portions having a marginal edge projecting into the adjacent corner and contacting one of the side walls in such corner, the plane of each depending portion making an acute angle with the plane of each side at such 6. A tray for fragile articles, the tray being composed of material such as paperboard cut, scored and folded to provide a rectangular bottom wall and four upstanding side walls, the side walls having their end edges together at the corners of the tray, a panel inclining inward and downward from the upper edge of each of the side walls, each of said panels having a depending flap portion at each end in face-to-face abutment with a corresponding flap portion of the adjacent panel end, each of said depending flap portions having an edge projecting into the adjacent corner and contacting and extending transversely of one of the side walls in such corner, the plane of each depending flap portion making an acute angle with the plane of each side at such corner.

7. A tray for fragile articles, the tray being composed of material such as paperboard cut, scored and folded;

to provide a bottom wall and a plurality greater than two of upstanding side walls, means for securing the ends of the side walls together at the corners of the tray, a panel inclining inward and downward from the upper edge of each of the side walls, each of said panels having a depending portionat each end in abutment with a corresponding portion of the adjacent panel end, each said depending portion lying in aplane making an acute angle with each of the adjacent sidewalls and projecting into the corner therebetween, the bottom edge of at least one of the depending portions in each corner being in abutting contact with said bottom wall.

8. A tray for fragile articles, the tray being composed of material such as paperboard cut, scored and folded to provide a bottom wall and a plurality greater than two of upstanding side walls, means for securing the ends of the side walls together at the corners of the tray, :1 panel inclining inward and downward from the upper edge of each of the side walls, each of said panels having a depending portion at each end in abutment with a corresponding portion of the adjacent panel end, each said depending portion lying in a plane making an acute angle with each of the adjacent side walls and projecting into the corner therebetween and, having an edge abutting against a side wall in such corner, the bottom edge of at least one of the depending portions in each corner being in abutting contact with said bottom wall.

9. A tray for fragile articles, the tray being composed of material such as paperboard cut, scored and folded to provide a bottom wall and a plurality greater than two of upstanding side walls, means for securing the ends of the side Walls together at the corners of the tray, a panel inclining inward and downward from the upper edge of each of the side walls, each of said panels having a depending portion at each end in abutment with a corresponding portion of the adjacent panel end, each said depending portion lying in a plane making an acute angle with each of the adjacent side Walls and projecting into the corner therebetween, at least one depending portion in each corner having an edge in abutting engagement with a side wall thereat, the bottom edge of at least one of the depending portions in each corner being in abutting contact with said bottom wall.

10. A display tray for fragile tubular or vase like articles, said tray comprising a single blank of resilient foldable paperboard cut, scored and folded to provide a relatively rectangular bottom wall, four substantially vertical side walls joined throughout their height at the several corners, a top panel extending from each side wall inward and downward into contact with said bottom wall, a triangular flap substantially of right triangle shape connected by the hypotenuse edge to each end edge of each of the top panels, the flaps on adjacent ends of adjacent top panels being disposed adjacent to one another in downwardly depending face-to-face relation to one another, said flaps lying in substantially vertical planes extending into the adjacent corner between the adjacent side wall ends, the hypotenuse edges of each adjacent pair of said flaps being substantially coextensive and in register and in abutment with one another throughout substantial parts of their coextensive lengths.

11. A display tray for fragile tubular or vase like articles, said tray comprising a single blank of resilient foldable paperboard cut, scored and folded to provide a relatively rectangular bottom wall, four substantially verticabside walls joined at the several corners of thetray, atop'panel ex-tendin'g from' each side wall inward and downward into contact with said bottom wall, a' triangularflap" of substantially right triangle shape joined by the hypotenuse edge to each of the end edges of each ofthe toppanels, theflaps on adjacent ends of adjacent top panels being disposed adjacent to one another in downwardly depending face-to-facerelation to: one another, said flaps lying in planes extending into the adjacentcorner between the adjacent side wall ends, the hypotenuse edges of each-a'djacent'pair ofsaid flaps being in register andabutment with one another throughout their lengths, each of said flaps having its other two edges in abutment against aside wall ancl the bottom wall; respectively. 7 1 V 12*. A display tray for fragile tubular or vase like articles, said tray comprising a single blank of resilient fold'ab'lepaperboard= cut, scored and folded to provide a relatively rectangular bottom wall, four substantially vertical side walls abuttingthrougliout their height at the several" corners of the tray,- a top panel extending from each" sidewall inward and downwardii1to contact with said bottom wall, a triangular; flap of substantially right triangle shape joined by its hypotenuse edge to each of the end edges of each of the'top panels, the flaps on adjacent ends of adjacent toppanelsbeing disposed'adjacent to one another in downwardly depending face-toface relation to one another, said flaps lying in planes extending into-the adjacent corner between the adjacent side wall ends, the hypotenuse edges of each adjacent pair of said flaps being coextensive over substantial portions of the length of each and in register and in abutment with one another throughout their coextensive lengths, one of each of said face-to-face flaps having one of its other edges in abutment against a side wall' and the other of its other edges in abutment against said bottom wall.

References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

